Public land mobile network identifier for non-mobile network operator networks

Abstract

Described herein are techniques for identifying an access network in a wireless communication system. For example, the technique may involve determining a scheme for access network identification based on a public land mobile network-identifier (PLMN-ID) and an additional identifier. The technique may involve, receiving from the access network, broadcast information comprising the PLMN-ID and the additional identifier. The technique may involve determining that the access network belongs to a class of access networks that utilizes the additional identifier. The technique may involve identifying the access network using a combination of the PLMN-ID and additional identifier based on the class of access networks and the determined scheme.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for identifying an access network in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving, from the access network, broadcast information including a public land mobile network identifier (PLMN-ID) and an additional identifier, wherein the PLMN-ID and the additional identifier are reserved for a non-mobile network operator (NMO) network that is run by a provider associated with the access network, the NMO network having its own set of subscribers and its own authentication system separate from that of a mobile network operator (MNO); 
 determining that the access network belongs to a class of access networks that utilizes the additional identifier; 
 identifying the access network using a combination of the PLMN-ID and the additional identifier based on the class of access networks and a determined scheme; and 
 determining a network type of the access network based on the combination of the PLMN-ID and the additional identifier, wherein the additional identifier comprises a plurality of sub-identifiers, and wherein a bit length of at least one of the plurality of sub-identifiers is differently allocated for each of a residential network type, an enterprise network type, and an internet service provider (ISP) type, and the network type of the access network comprises one of the residential network type, the enterprise network type, or the ISP type. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additional identifier is received in the broadcast information via one or more existing fields. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more existing fields comprises a Global Cell identification (GCID), a PLMN-ID list, or a closed subscriber group identifier (CSG ID). 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sub-identifiers includes a Network Type, a Network identification (Network ID), and a Cell identification (Cell ID). 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additional identifier is received in the broadcast information via a new field defined for conveying information of the additional identifier. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising authenticating the access network based on security information comprising at least one of a digital signature, digital certificate, or public key associated with the access network. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the security information is received in the broadcast information. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the security information is received after establishing a connection with the access network. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determined scheme comprises a scheme for the additional identifier that is preconfigured at a mobile entity, the scheme for the additional identifier defining the bit length of each sub-identifier of the plurality of sub-identifiers for each type of the access network. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving the determined scheme from a network entity, the determined scheme comprising a scheme for the additional identifier, wherein the scheme for the additional identifier defines the bit length of each sub-identifier of the plurality of sub-identifiers for each type of the access network. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting device credentials based on the access network identity. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access network includes at least one Long-term evolution (LTE) small cell configured to provide data-only services. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the LTE small cell configured to provide data-only services comprises an LTE small cell configured to use unlicensed spectrum. 
     
     
       14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions which cause a data processing device to:
 receive, from an access network, broadcast information including a public land mobile network-identifier (PLMN-ID) and an additional identifier, wherein the PLMN-ID and the additional identifier are reserved for a non-mobile network operator (NMO) network that is run by a provider associated with the access network, the NMO network having its own set of subscribers and its own authentication system separate from that of a mobile network operator (MNO); 
 determine that the access network belongs to a class of access networks that utilizes the additional identifier; 
 identify the access network using a combination of the PLMN-ID and the additional identifier based on the class of access networks and a determined scheme; and 
 determine a network type of the access network based on the combination of the PLMN-ID and the additional identifier, wherein the additional identifier comprises a plurality of sub-identifiers, and wherein a bit length of at least one of the plurality of sub-identifiers is differently allocated for each of a residential network type, an enterprise network type, and an internet service provider (ISP) type, and the network type of the access network comprises one of the residential network type, the enterprise network type, or the ISP type. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the additional identifier is received in the broadcast information via one or more existing fields. 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the computer-readable medium further causes the data processing device to authenticate the access network based on security information comprising at least one of a digital signature, digital certificate, or public key associated with the access network. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of sub-identifiers includes a Network Type, a Network identification (Network ID), and a Cell identification (Cell ID). 
     
     
       18. A method for wireless communication by an access point, the method comprising:
 identifying a public land mobile network-identifier (PLMN-ID) and an additional identifier, wherein the PLMN-ID and additional identifier are reserved for a non-mobile network operator (NMO) network that is run by a respective provider, the NMO network having its own set of subscribers and its own authentication system separate from that of a mobile network operator (MNO) based on a class of access networks the access point belongs to, and the additional identifier comprises a plurality of sub-identifiers, wherein a bit length of at least one of the plurality of sub-identifiers included in the additional identifier is differently allocated for each of a residential network type, an enterprise network type, and an internet service provider (ISP) type, and a network type of the class of access networks to which the access point belongs comprises one of the residential network type, the enterprise network type, or the ISP type; and 
 broadcasting the PLMN-ID and the additional identifier. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the additional identifier via one or more existing fields. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , the one or more existing fields comprises a Global Cell-ID (GCID), a PLMN-ID list, or a closed subscriber group identifier (CSG ID). 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the additional identifier is broadcast in a new field defined for conveying information of the additional identifier. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising broadcasting security information for authenticating the access point comprising at least one of a digital signature, digital certificate, or public key associated with the access network. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of sub-identifiers comprises a Network Type, a Network identification (Network ID), and a Cell identification (Cell ID). 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the access point is a long-term evolution (LTE) small cell configured to provide data-only services. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the LTE small cell is a femtocell or a picocell. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus for wireless communication in an access network, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one transceiver configured for broadcasting a public land mobile network-identifier (PLMN-ID) and an additional identifier, wherein the PLMN-ID and additional identifier are reserved for a non-mobile network operator (NMO) network that is run by a respective provider, the NMO network having its own set of subscribers and its own authentication system separate from that of a mobile network operator (MNO) based on a scheme for access network identification, wherein the additional identifier is configured for identifying the access network based on a classification of the access network and the scheme, wherein the additional identifier comprises a plurality of sub-identifiers having at least one sub-identifier of a bit length that is differently allocated for each of a residential network type, an enterprise network type, and an internet service provider (ISP) type, and a network type of the access network comprises one of the residential network type, the enterprise network type, or the ISP type; 
 at least one processor for processing data; and 
 a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data. 
 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the additional identifier is broadcast in a new field defined for conveying information of the additional identifier. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein at least one transceiver is further configured to broadcast security information for authenticating the access network comprising at least one of a digital signature, digital certificate, or public key associated with the access network. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one transceiver is further configured for broadcasting a signature for authenticating an access point, wherein the signature authenticates the access point based, at least in part, on an allocated partition associated with the classification of the access point.